Immigration Writs of Mandamus in Dallas

Immigration Application Delays Are Common

The United States immigration legal system is not only notoriously complex, it is also congested. Vast numbers of people from across the globe all share the same goal of coming to live, work and build a future of prosperity for themselves and their families here in the United States.

As a result, the various agencies which handle applications for nonimmigrant visas, employment- and family-based immigrant visas and naturalization, including the State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, are overloaded. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security reports that 476,249 green cards were issued in 2011, along with 684,193 naturalizations and a total of 7,507,939 visas. For every one of the approved petitions, many others were received, processed and denied.

It is normal to wait several months to find out whether or not your immigration application will be approved, but in some cases the delay can extend for well over a year or even into the range of several years. During this time, you have to wait and to some degree put your life on hold while you worry about whether you will be allowed to remain in the United States or if you will be able to enjoy the benefits of full citizenship. Fortunately, it may be possible for you to find relief from this hardship with the help of a Dallas immigration attorney at the Mathur Law Offices, P.C.,

About the Writ of Mandamus

In some cases, it is possible to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and put an end to unreasonable delays in an immigration case by filing a writ of mandamus. Mandamus is the Latin word for "we demand," and it is a legal instrument by which a higher court commands a lower court or other agency to do something - or not to do something. The writ of mandamus cannot be used to order USCIS to rule in your favor or to approve your application. Instead, its purpose is to compel the agency to make a decision.

Essentially, it is an order from the higher court to expedite the case so that you can finally find out whether your application will be approved or denied and then move forward in your life. When you file a writ of mandamus, you are essentially suing USCIS or any other agency which may be involved in your petition. In many cases, the lawsuit may not even have to go to court; the agency will often respond to the writ by moving forward to decide on the petition.

To learn whether a writ of mandamus may be appropriate in your case, contact us now to schedule your initial case evaluation!